Shabbat Gathering: Letter from Jackie.

Gud Shabbos Khaveyrim, as is our custom, we will gather tonight at 5.45p ct to welcome Shabbat. These are the coordinates:

Zoom
Meeting ID: 883 8469 4181
Password: 822665
Phone: +1 312 626 6799

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This week, I'm turning the newsletter over to Jackie Kaplan who will tell you about our synagogue's upcoming Shabbaton.

How Do You Get The Word Out?

By Jackie Kaplan
I’ve been thinking recently of the old Garrison Keillor Saturday night radio show "Prairie Home Companion." At its best, you felt like part of a community as you listened to the old folk songs, stories, and skits.

I would tell all my friends about the how much I enjoyed the show, and they would ask, "So, you stay home on a Saturday night to listen to the radio?”

It’s hard to get the word out.

Our Shaarei Shamayim Shabbatons are also difficult to get the word out. A person asked me recently, "Well, will this be just like a regular service?" One year, someone wandered in for the last event of the weekend and afterwards said, "Jackie, this was great. Why didn’t you tell me about it before?"

So here’s a little background. Every two years or so we have a weekend event at Shaarei Shamayim with an exceptional leader from the world of Jewish spirituality and Jewish Renewal. Every one of the Shabbatons is different, but they are all vibrant, experiential weekends of prayer, meditation, story telling, conversation, singing, and teaching.

I’m remembering another person who had only come to Torah study but never to services. She was persuaded to come for the weekend and had tears in eyes as we danced a circle dance and the Rabbi talked about the deeper meaning of Hungarian Jewish World War II resistance fighter Hannah Szenes’ poem, song, prayer “Eli, Eli."

Well, I’ve tried … but I also know how reluctant I am to go to something new. (What if I won’t enjoy it?). And how easy it to blow past all the endless e-mails in our cluttered life with all the event announcements, texts, and internet hyper links. But I always go to our Shabbatons, and I always feel blessed that I’ve attended.

I hope you will consider to come to some or all the events on April 24 and 25 this year. All we can do is try to get the word out. Try it, I think you’ll like it.

April 24-25, 2026 - Mi Dor L'Dor: From Generation to Generation

Accessing Ancestral Wisdom for Healing and Joy A Shabbaton with Rabbi Tirzah Firestone - First Unitarian Society, Landmark Auditorium / Loggia / Gaebler Living Room or via Zoom‍

Nosh Treats and Shabbat service on Friday evening, Saturday Shabbat morning service and potluck lunch. Teachings and meditation in the afternoon, and evening Havdalah gathering with sacred poetry and mystical tales. For more information and to register visit the Shabbaton 2026 page or call the office.

Thanks, Jackie!

And may it be for all of us a blessing.

See you tonight!

Mit vareme grusn,
(With warm regards,)

All my love,
brian.

PS

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